Girl killed in hit-and-run boat crash off Key Biscayne was a Ransom Everglades student
A girl killed Saturday in a hit-and-run boat crash off Key Biscayne has been identified as 15-year-old Ella Riley Adler.
Ella, a student and member of the dance team at Ransom Everglades School, emanated love and joy, the girl’s family said in her obituary. The freshman was cast as a ballerina in “The Nutcracker,” appearing in more than 100 performances with the Miami City Ballet at the Adrienne Arsht Center.
“When she walked into a room, everyone was drawn to her,” her family said. “She loved to dance, she loved her friends, and most of all she loved her family — her parents, Amanda and Matthew, and her younger siblings Jaden and Adalynn.”
Around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Ella was water skiing near Key Biscayne’s Nixon Beach when a boater hit her and sped away, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The boat was last seen heading west from Nixon Beach, FWC said. The vessel is a center console boat with a light blue hull, multiple white outboard engines and may have blue or dark blue bottom paint.
A first responder reported seeing a lot of blood in the water, according to fire rescue radio transmissions. WSVN reported that Ella was celebrating a friend’s birthday on a family boat.
“Today, our hearts ache as we mourn the loss of a bright young soul,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a post on X. “My deepest condolences to the Adler family. Let’s honor her memory by exercising better boat safety, to ensure tragedies like this never happen again. May she rest in peace.”
School, family mourns Ella
Ransom Everglades students, staff and teachers are devastated, according to Head of School Rachel Rodriguez:
“Ella shined in our classrooms and on our stages, and she embodied the mission of Ransom Everglades School,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “She was an outstanding student, a wonderful dancer and an active member of the Jewish Student Association and speech and debate team.”
“Ella Adler was not just a beloved student and a magnificent dancer who graced our stage in George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” she was an integral part of our family, radiating potential and promise whose kindness, warmth, and infectious joy were known to all,” Miami City Ballet said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to Ella’s family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and adoring her.”
Ella’s family said she was compassionate.
“She always believed in speaking up for what was right and she always spoke her mind, but with warmth and grace,” her family said.
The 15-year-old was also proud of her Jewish heritage.
“She was the great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors,” her family said. “She loved Israel and came from a long line of Jewish leaders with a strong commitment to faith and tikkun olam.”
Dozens of loved ones shared their memories of Ella on her online obituary, with many of her friends recounting how their friendships blossomed during ballet practices and summer camp.
“At the beginning of this year when Ella joined the dance team, never would I imagine the impact she would have on me,” friend Lauren Scott said. “From her smile to her contagious laugh, when Ella walked into the studio there was no way not to share her joy.”
Emma Fayad said she remembers Ella’s warm smile when they first met at Ransom Everglades four years ago.
“No one had ever made me feel so confident in myself or so happy to go to school, knowing that I was going to see her,” Emma said. “She had a way of making you believe everything she said, because you knew that you could always trust her and confide in her. I never thought that I would have to say goodbye, especially so soon. I will miss you so much, and I can only hope that you rest in peace.”
Ella’s service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Temple Beth Sholom, 4144 Chase Ave., in Miami Beach.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of the boater.
#HitAndRun #Boating #Miami - Please help us locate the boat which killed a water skier. There is one family, one group of friends, whose Mother's Day and life has been changed forever! Help us close this case quickly using our #Internet connections. The boat could be anywhere… pic.twitter.com/7AC0Xf0gKN
— Crime Stoppers Miami & FL Keys (@CrimeStopper305) May 12, 2024
Anyone with information about the boat crash is asked to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. To make an anonymous tip, call Miami-Dade & the Florida Keys Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or visit crimestoppers305.com.
Miami Herald reporter Grethel Aguila contributed to this report.
